Paris, France. On 14 May 2014 a cooperation agreement was signed between the Order of Malta, represented by Grand Chancellor Jean-Pierre Mazery and the International Organization of the Francophonie, represented by the Secretary General Abdou Diouf (former President of Senegal).

London, United Kingdom. The Freemasons' Grand Charity donated £ 30,000 to those affected by the floods that occurred in the Balkans. Also, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta has taken measures for victims to be helped.

Belgrade, Serbia. To mark 95 years of its foundation, the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia will organize a Masonic exhibition in the capital. The event is organized in partnership with the Ethnographic Museum and will be titled: "Freemasonry in Serbia 1785-2014".

In 1919, the Grand Lodge was called the Grand Lodge of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes "Yugoslavia". The exhibition will be opened on June 9, 2014.

Chisinau, Moldova. Honorary President of the World Conference of Grand Lodges, Thomas Jackson, visited Moldova last week. On this occasion, Jackson and the Grand Master of Moldova, Iurie Sedleţchi, granted an interview.

The Grand Master of Moldova talked about the openness of Moldavian Freemasonry in society and stated that there are members of Parliament and Government in Chisinau which are Freemasons, but their identity can be disclosed only with their approval.

Thomas Jackson spoke about democracy and freedom and the relationship of these two concepts with Freemasonry, saying that where there is no democracy there is no Freemasonry. In this context he said that unfortunately no one talks about the fact that Hitler persecuted people because they were Freemasons or that in countries like Japan and Iran (during history) Freemasons were persecuted. Moreover, Jackson said that proof of this is that the Grand Lodge of Iran works in exile in the United States: "The great enemies of Freemasonry are people like Khomeini, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Franco etc."

Finally, Thomas Jackson talked about an important aspect of the Freemasons: philanthropy. "American Freemasons donate a million and a half dollars daily, 365 days a year," said the President of Honour of the World Conference of Grand Lodges.

Rome, Italy. The Grand Orient of Italy comes to the aid of flood victims in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Grand Master Bisi appealed to helping people in difficulty in the Balkans. Also, the Grand Masters of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina called on all Grand Masters for help to collect food, medicines etc.

The two countries have suffered the biggest natural disaster in more than a century. "The joint effort of Freemasons in Europe and around the world is welcome and is a testament to our Masonic education," said the Secretary General of the Masonic Press Agency. For more information please contact the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia and the Grand Lodge of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bucharest, Romania. From 19 to 24 May 2014, the York Rite organizes the 2014 edition of the Romanian Masonic Week. Throughout the week there will be a series of events, including the European Conference of the Knights Templar.

Saturday events will be held to mark the 15th anniversary since the refunding of the York Rite in Romania and 700 years since the death of Jacques DeMolay. In the evening will take place the banquet of the York Rite.

Bucharest, Romania. Today took place the closing ceremony of the XIII World Conference of Grand Lodges. The session was held at the Parliament Palace in the presence of all Grand Lodge delegations Grand Lodges attending the event.

On this occasion, the Grand Master of California took over as Executive President and Radu Bălănescu was elected Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Grand Lodges. For more than a decade and a half this office was held by Thomas Jackson, Past Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

Tonight the World Conference banquet will be held at Parliament Palace, and tomorrow will take place the Annual Communication of the National Grand Lodge of Romania.

Bucharest, Romania. Not long ago have ended the working sessions of the World Conference which were organized yesterday and today at Phoenicia Hotel in Bucharest. Last night, the National Grand Lodge of Romania invited all Masonic delegations to the National Opera where was staged "La Sylphide" (one of the oldest Ballet in the world).

Today, from 14:00, all participants of the XIII World Conference will take a tour of Bucharest and following that, in the evening, will attend a Romanian folkloric show which will take place at the host hotel.

Bucharest, Romania. Today took place the official opening ceremony of the XIII edition of the World Conference of Grand Lodges. The event organized by the National Grand Lodge of Romania was held at Parliament Palace.

Havana, Cuba. The Grand Lodge of Cuba proposes that the mediation of the conflict with the Grand Lodge of Florida to take place in Bucharest, in the framework of the XIII World Conference of Grand Lodges. It also demanded to have as mediators Thomas Jackson and Tomas Alvarez (Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Masonic Confederation). We recall that the Grand Lodge of Florida has withdraw the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Cuba.

Bucharest, Romania. On Thursday and Friday will be held sessions of the working groups of the World Conference of Grand Lodges. The six groups are led by the Grand Master of Germany (assisted by the Grand Master of Serbia), Grand Master of Spain, Grand Master of Togo, Grand Master of Switzerland (assisted by the Grand Master of Macedonia), Grand Master of Parana (Brazil) and the Grand Master of California.

Bucharest, Romania. Grand Lodges delegations attending the XIII World Conference are arriving today and tomorrow in the Romanian capital. Registrations are held at Phoenicia Grand Hotel from 9:00 to 18:00. The official opening ceremony of the World Conference of Grand Lodges will be held on May 15, 2014 at the Parliament Palace.

Bucharest, Romania. From 14 to 18 May 2014 will take place the XIII World Conference of Grand Lodges. The largest Masonic meeting ever organized in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe will take place in Romania. The event is hosted by the National Grand Lodge of Romania. On May 17, 2014, Grand Master Radu Balanescu will pass the office of Executive President of the World Conference to the Grand Master of California.

The event will be attended by delegations from Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. The last meeting took place in India. Romania received the right to host this event in 2011, in Columbia, when it won against Russia.

More information on this event will be published in the coming days and next week.

Accra, Ghana. On May 10, 2014 will take place the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Ghana. The event will take place at Achimota Masonic Hall and the banquet will be hosted by the Fiesta Royale Hotel. Most Worshipful Otwasuom Osae Nyampong VI is the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge.

New York, United States. The Grand Lodge of New York restored Masonic relations with the French National Grand Lodge. The decision was taken during the233th Annual Communication which took place on 5-6 May 2014. The Grand Lodges maintain Masonic relations since 1928.

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IN MEMORIAM Alicia TOYOS

EXCLUSIVE | Interview with the first (woman) Grand Master in the history of the Republic of Uruguay, Alicia TOYOS | This interview has an exclusive character, being part of the Exclusive Collection of Interviews of the Masonic Agency. The republication (total and/or partial publication) of this interview is strictly prohibited.